An Electric Bus Fleet to Run in LA

The city of Los Angeles on July 27 announced
plans to have a fleet of fully electric, zero-emissions buses by 2030. Hilda
Solis, a Metro Board Member, said the vote represents an enormous investment in
the future of a healthy and prosperous Los Angeles. Authorities in the US
metropolis said the project, which involves the purchase of 2,200 vehicles,
would cost some $1 billion over the next ten years.

The current fleet operates on compressed natural gas (CNG),
seen as the most environmentally-friendly option when the buses were purchased
in the 1990s. A CNG coalition had previously protested the transition, arguing
that, while the goals were worthy, electric buses were not yet a reliable
technology.

The
state of California has positioned itself at the forefront in the fight
against carbon emissions despite President Donald Trump's decision to
rollback legislation enacted by his predecessor Barack Obama and to pull the
United States out of the Paris climate accord in June.